title: Survival rate of breast cancer patients in Malaysia: a population-based study.
abstract: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Malaysian women. Other than hospital-based results, there are no documented population-based survival rates of Malaysian women for breast cancers. This population- based retrospective cohort study was therefore conducted. Data were obtained from Health Informatics Centre, Ministry of Health Malaysia, National Cancer Registry and National Registration Department for the period from 1st Jan 2000 to 31st December 2005. Cases were captured by ICD-10 and linked to death certificates to identify the status. Only complete data were analysed. Survival time was calculated from the estimated date of diagnosis to the date of death or date of loss to follow-up. Observed survival rates were estimated by Kaplan- Meier method using SPSS Statistical Software version 17. A total of 10,230 complete data sets were analysed. The mean age at diagnosis was 50.6 years old. The overall 5-year survival rate was 49% with median survival time of 68.1 months. Indian women had a higher survival rate of 54% compared to Chinese women (49%) and Malays (45%). The overall 5-year survival rate of breast cancer patient among Malaysian women was still low for the cohort of 2000 to 2005 as compared to survival rates in developed nations. Therefore, it is necessary to enhance the strategies for early detection and intervention.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Research, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia E-mail : rozita@imr.gov.my.
authors.forename: Nor Aini
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Abdullah
authors.forename: Wan Rozita
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Wan Mahiyuddin
authors.forename: Nor Asiah
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Muhammad
authors.forename: Zainudin Mohamad
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Lailanor
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: Nor Saleha
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Ibrahim Tamim
authors.forename: Amal Nasir
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Mustafa
authors.forename: Muhammad Amir
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kamaluddin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality*; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D055815:Young Adult